Bone status in preterm infant: influences of different nutritional regimens and possible markers of bone disease.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate possible influences of parenteral nutrition on growth and bone development in preterms and to search for markers of bone status.

STUDY DESIGN: Metacarpus bone transmission time (mc-BTT) was performed at birth, 21 days and 36 weeks of gestational age (GA) in preterms, receiving two different nutritional regimens, together with biochemical analysis.

RESULT: A total of 234 patients were studied. Newborns with aggressive nutrition had significantly better growth rate and higher values of mc-BTT until discharge. Mc-BTT at day 21 correlates positively with nutritional intakes and phosphatemia; lower limb length positively correlated with mc-BTT (P<0.01). Newborns with low energy intake in the first week of life (<70 kcal kg(-1) per day) and low serum phosphate level (<1.4 mmol l(-1)) at 21 days had lower mc-BTT at 36 weeks of GA (P<0.01).

CONCLUSION: Aggressive parenteral intakes in preterms improve growth and bone status in the short-medium term, suggesting that early nutrition could influence bone development.